Join the Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship (VIUF) Social Justice Committee for an exploration of reparations — the bridge between truth and reconciliation.

Starting Tuesday, April 19, we will meet by Zoom for six weekly sessions, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The group will learn and process the facts, diverse perspectives, and paths forward as we seek to heal the trauma of stolen land and enslavement and its ongoing repercussions.

VIUF believes that compassion, clear understanding, and informed actions are essential parts of a path to justice. Together we will cover such topics as the role of the White Savior, the psychological ramifications of our history, and the spiritual foundations of restorative justice.

Many white people in the United States are pushing beyond denial of our country’s inhumane treatment of Indigenous and Black people. We are beginning to recognize that systematic racism is at the root of the grossly disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, incarceration, low homeownership, and health disparities among Black and Indigenous people.

All are welcome. Materials are available online, plus a $5 book. Bring your curiosity and come ready to engage.

For questions, more details, or to sign up, contact Tanya Roberts at 240-505-6110 or tanyaroberts@centurytel.net.

Tanya Roberts is a Ph.D. economist from the University of Washington. While a graduate student, she was asked to develop and teach a new course, The Role of Women in the U.S. Economy. For a textbook, she used “The Economics of Discrimination.” Roberts grew up in Federal Way, spent most of her career in Washington, D.C., and moved to Vashon in 2017.